Fairfield vs College Station: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Fairfield, CA and College Station, TX, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricFairfield, CACollege Station, TX
Population119,420120,451
Median household income$98,857$52,397
Median home value$546,200$305,800
Median rent (/mo)$2,047$1,129

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Fairfield, CA and College Station, TX comes down to what you value most. College Station has the lower median home value, and College Station has the lower median rent.

Fairfield has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Fairfield or College Station?
By median home value, College Station is the cheaper of the two ($305,800 vs $546,200). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Fairfield or College Station?
Median household income is $98,857 in Fairfield versus $52,397 in College Station, per the US Census Bureau.

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